The week: Stories and photos from April 19-25

THE REGION

CARLSBAD – The City Council took a first step Tuesday night toward
developing a long-awaited park and pool complex, approving grading of a 30-acre site in
southeastern Carlsbad. However, the council didn't put the Alga Norte Park and Aquatic
Center out to bid, citing the recession that's sapping the city's bottom line. The park is
designed to include Olympic and instructional pools and a wet-play area for children.

POINT LOMA – A persistent pooch who helped save a neighbor's home
and perhaps the neighbors by alerting his owner to a fire was honored Tuesday by the San
Diego Fire-Rescue Department. Firefighters named Cabrillo, a 2-year-old Portuguese water
dog, an “Honorary Fire Dog” and gave him a medal, a proclamation and a bag of
dog biscuits. Cabrillo incessantly barked and awakened his owner, Sandra Angel, April 2 as
the house three doors down was burning. She said Cabrillo nudged her and ran from window
to window. Angel saw the fire and called 911; her boyfriend alerted the residents to get
out.

CHULA VISTA – Two men accused of stealing a $15,000 bronze pig
statue from a Chula Vista restaurant pleaded not guilty Wednesday in San Diego Superior
Court to grand theft. Authorities said Armando Cesena, 35, and Oren Hertz, 34, showed up
at police headquarters Monday and admitted taking – and later returning – the
3-foot-tall statue, which had been bolted down in front of Miguel's Cocina on Eastlake
Parkway. Both could be sentenced to three years in prison if convicted.

LAKESIDE – The historic boathouse at Lindo Lake Park is undergoing
a major restoration financed by a $150,000 state grant and $50,000 in county funds. The
project aims to bring one of Lakeside's oldest buildings back to its original appearance,
it was reported last week. The work helped the boathouse earn a place on the list of
California Points of Historical Interest. Completion was expected by the end of the month.

FALLBROOK – An entomologist working in an avocado grove died
Wednesday when he was thrown from his all-terrain vehicle and went over a cliff, falling
about 120 feet, sheriff's officials said. Benjamin Lobato Huante, 49, of Highland was
placing insect traps in a grove on Conquistador Road, when he drove too close to a cliff.
The ATV rolled, and Huante was thrown out. SAN DIEGO – A suspicious-looking cylinder
found Thursday at Arena Pharmaceuticals, in a Sorrento Valley business park, prompted the
evacuation of workers and a nearly four-hour road closure until a bomb squad determined
that the item was harmless. The 3-foot cylinder turned out to be a cardboard tube. Police
said they were told that Arena laid off one-third of its work force, or 130 employees, and
had anticipated problems. No connection was found between the layoffs and the placement of
the tube.

U-T cartoonist grabs second Pulitzer Prize

Steve Breen, The San Diego Union-Tribune's editorial cartoonist, won his second Pulitzer Prize on Monday. Judges for journalism's most coveted award picked Breen “for his agile use of a classic style to produce wide-ranging cartoons that engage readers with power, clarity and humor.”